Continual data growth, storage, IT administration budgets, and minimal downtime are concerns shared by most small/medium business (SMB), edge, and remote office/branch office (ROBO) storage managers.
Faced with the challenge of integrating storage arrays, network hardware, and computing power together, understandably storage managers are concerned about budget, skill set, and availability. For this reason, many are moving away from conventional converged infrastructure to hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solutions.
What is Hyperconvergence?
Hyperconvergence merges computing, storage, and networking into a single, integrated architecture. Traditional datacenter architecture requires specialist hardware, with each piece designated for a specific function, whereas HCI software utilizes simplified hardware and software components.
The goal of hyperconvergence is to virtualize the datacenter environment and remove complexity by reducing the amount of hardware needed to operate. Modular hyperconvergence systems are very suitable for edge environments and SMBs working with a lean IT workforce and limited space and resources on-site.
What are the Benefits of Hyperconvergence?
- Easy to operate: Eliminates the need for specialist IT support
- More affordable: Fewer expensive, physical hardware needed
- Single virtualized appliance: Requires a much smaller physical footprint
- Superior network performance: Distribute operating functions over cluster
Hyperconverged infrastructure addresses common challenges in edge environments by decreasing the amount of space, IT support, and budget needed to operate. HCI converges traditional datacenter hardware components into a single virtualized appliance, requiring a much smaller physical footprint.
As HCI is easy to operate, it eliminates the need for specialist IT support. Additionally, it reduces the amount of expensive, physical hardware needed per site – making a more cost-effective solution, too.
Lastly, it delivers superior network performance and resiliency, as software running on each server node distributes all operating functions across the cluster.
What is the ROI of Hyperconvergence?
Some of the most notable ways hyperconvergence offers a good ROI for organizations are high availability, scalability, manageability, and a reduction in upfront and running costs.
High availability (HA)
HCI is designed for application failover and enables high availability (HA). Virtual machines (VMs) are migrated between nodes so that in the event of a failure, all data is kept safe. This minimizes downtime, keeps business-critical applications operational, and provides an exceptional and uninterrupted user experience. As a business case, this essential functionality keeps you operational no matter the issue – helping you maintain day-to-day processes and reducing risks.
The right HCI vendor can help you achieve HA with as little as two nodes.
Easy to Manage and Scale
Converged infrastructure is made up of separate physical hardware components, making it much more difficult to scale.
Hyperconvergence enables you to scale your chosen software as needed with additional storage in each node, or with the addition of entire nodes to the cluster. Its scalability is ideal for businesses with plans to grow in the future and reduces the worry of purchasing the correct amount of storage or additional infrastructure when they do.
Cost Reduction
Compared to the expensive bespoke tools found in converged systems, HCI (which typically uses industry-standard x86 servers) costs far less in both the deployment and management of systems across SMBs, edge environments, and ROBO locations.
Additionally, the IT support requirements to run and maintain the systems are dramatically reduced because there’s no complex hardware. Depending on the chosen HCI solution, this could also save you time and labor costs, as you no longer need to send IT personnel out to remote edge locations to perform maintenance or upgrades.
Why Hyperconvergence? Put Simply, It’s Ideal for the Edge
SMBs, ROBO locations, and the edge have unique needs compared to other types of IT environments. Some common challenges include:
- Storage and processing of data locally across multiple locations, including isolated or remote environments
- Achieving high availability and reliability while lowering costs compared to major HCI vendors like VMware vSphere
- Simplified management for all locations with centralized control, eliminating the need for on-site IT staff
- Maintaining consistent performance and reliability across all locations
Hyperconvergence to a great solution to tackle all these challenges, and more. You can learn more about HCI and its benefits in our comprehensive guide, ‘What is Hyperconverged Infrastructure?’.
